NEW ORLEANS, La. (6/29/17) – The Arkansas State men's and women's basketball teams have announced their 2017-18 Sun Belt Conference schedules in conjunction with an announcement through the league office Thursday morning.

This year's schedule will return to a Thursday-Saturday doubleheader format with 18 games scheduled for both the men's and women's schedules. The only exception to the format is the opening week when teams will play on Friday and Sunday to allow extra time off for the holiday period.

The 18-game format will allow for less travel time with team's making four road trips throughout the season that will consist of two games each. Travel partners will be used, with team's receiving an open date before playing their rivalry opponent each time throughout the year.

To purchase or renew a season ticket package for the upcoming basketball season, log onto AStateRedWolves.com/tickets or call the A-State Box Office at 888-ASU-FANS.

For the second consecutive season, the Red Wolves will open league play at home on Friday, Dec. 29 against Louisiana-Monroe followed by a Sunday tilt with Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday, Dec. 31.

A-State will play host to a total of nine conference games at the Convocation Center, including a Saturday matchup at the Convocation Center against Little Rock on Feb. 17 as part of a split doubleheader. The Red Wolves will take on the Trojans in Little Rock earlier in the season on Jan. 20, marking the second straight season that season series has started in Little Rock.

Other key matchups include a home matchup against Texas State (Jan. 11) and UT Arlington (Jan. 13) after each of the schools did not travel to Jonesboro in 2015-16. This season, Troy and South Alabama will not play at the Convocation Center, but A-State will travel to Troy on Feb. 8, followed by a matchup in Mobile, Ala., on Feb. 10.

Other matchups includes a trip to the state of Georgia for the first time since the 2014-15 season when both squads will take on Georgia Southern on Jan. 4 and Georgia State on Jan. 6. The final home weekend series of the year will take place Feb. 22 and Feb. 24 with games against Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina. The Red Wolves conclude the season on the road with games at Louisiana-Lafayette (March 1) and at Louisiana-Monroe (March 3).

The 2018 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championship returns to New Orleans and Lakefront Arena. The tournaments will run from March 6-11 with all teams in both the men's and women's brackets advancing to play in the tournament.

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